15 Signs That Being a Digital Nomad Is for You

January 6, 2019

Do you want to ditch your cubicle to work in a coffee shop on the beach? Do you want to leave work early without owing your boss an explanation? This doesn’t have to remain a dream for you. More and more people are ditching the 9-5 to become location independent AKA a digital nomad. These people earn a living from their laptops from anywhere in the world. If you’re contemplating if the digital nomad lifestyle is right for you, read these fifteen signs to see if you’re cut out for this lifestyle.

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1. You Care More About Experiences Than Your Possessions

We all have material possessions. I won’t get into much detail about my purse collection here. However, you don’t let these possessions define you. You grasp that your experiences mean more to you than your material items. Owning less is both mentally and physically freeing. If you want to be a nomad, you can’t travel freely with twelve pairs of shoes and twenty shirts. Pro tip: if you really want to master this whole owning less concept, you should travel with a backpack. It’s a good way to travel with only the necessities.

2. You Dream About Being Free

Before I started traveling, I would sit in my cubicle at work and think how different my life would be if I didn’t have any limitations. I dreamt of freedom and jumping on a flight to a new place whenever I felt like it. In case you didn’t already know, that’s my favorite F word. I desperately needed the freedom to follow my own path. If this is you, being a digital nomad is something you should consider.

My office view in Thailand

3. You Love to Meet New People

If you’re a digital nomad, you have to get used to being a constant stranger. I find it exciting because I’m able to make friends all over the world. However, some people find it intimidating. Determine if social interactions bring you life or suck the life out of you before making this decision.

4. Being Independent Doesn’t Scare You

I don’t mean to scare you, but there’s a possibility that you move abroad and it takes you a few months to find a solid group of friends. You have to be okay with this. If you’re having difficulty finding your circle, stay connected to friends and family back home. This should make it easier for you.

5. Your Time Management Skills Are Phenomenal

I’m not going to lie… I used to have major procrastination issues when I first started my digital nomad lifestyle. I was a nap queen. Ultimately, you have to realize that you’re not on vacation. You’re not going to make money if you don’t work. It’s that simple. You have to effectively manage your schedule wisely if you want to be a successful digital nomad.

6. You’re Self-Motivated

If you’re able to work without needing constant supervision from your boss, this lifestyle might be right for you. You should be comfortable with being in charge and making all of the decisions. If you have a task that needs to be done, you just do it. You don’t procrastinate– you just “DO.”

My office view in Dubai

7. You’re Flexible

You might have zero issues with meeting deadlines, but can you roll with the punches? If this isn’t you, being a digital nomad probably won’t work out for you. How will you handle a canceled flight? What happens if your Wifi goes out? Can you handle unexpected situations like this?

8. Your Communication Skills Are Fantastic

If you want to rock it as a digital nomad, your communication skills should be top-notch. You have to be able to lead conversations that are to the point and be as detailed as possible. Most importantly, you should be comfortable with having conversations with others across the world via phone or Skype.

9. Your Curiosity Fuels You

Do you catch yourself asking “why” as much as you blink your eyes? Then, being a digital nomad might be right for you. You’re able to think outside of the box by asking yourself why certain things are the way that they are. You desire to understand situations from a different perspective and you enjoy thinking of all of the possibilities.

10. You Want to Be in Control of Your Income

The biggest thing that appealed to me as being a digital nomad was traveling and having the ability to make however much money I wanted to. My income isn’t limited by an hourly rate or salary and I have no income limitations. I determine my rates because I’m my own boss.

11. You Like to Try New Things

Trying new things doesn’t scare you. In fact, you find it thrilling. As a digital nomad, things are constantly changing. The usual coffee shop you work at might close down. Your client might have you completely redo their marketing plan that you spent hours and hours writing. Getting comfortable with trying new things will make this lifestyle easier.

My office view in Egypt

12. You Do Just as Much as You Dream

There’s nothing wrong with dreaming. But, you have to take action just as much as you dream in order for them to come true. You must be able to turn your dreams into a reality. It doesn’t mean much if you have all these great business ideas if you’re not taking action to make these ideas come to life.

13. You Enjoy Learning

As a digital nomad, you’re constantly learning. You’re learning about productivity and time management skills. You’re learning about new countries and cultures. If you enjoy learning something new each day, you’ll love being a digital nomad.

14. You Don’t Mind Being Away From Home

I struggle with missing home every now and then. But, I realize that home is anywhere that I feel safe and loved. I can’t even tell you how many hotel beds I’ve slept in since December of 2017. If you want to be a digital nomad, you can’t have an attachment to a single place. You have to make wherever you are your home.

15. You Feel Like You’re Living a Mediocre Life

You understand that there’s more to life than showing up to a job that you hate every day. You’re tired of settling for your life. You understand that you have one life to live and life is too short to feel unfulfilled.

If you made it to the end of this post, you’re probably deeply considering being a digital nomad. Do you resonate with any of the above traits? Let me know in the comments below.

10 Comments

All of these definitely fit me, but there is still a little of fear to start doing it full-time! I don’t mind doing it after work and on weekends and hopefully my blog will become my main source of income, but I would not be able to use it now and get by without a job just yet!

Disha S.

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HELLO AND WELCOME

Hey there! I’m Disha and welcome to Disha Discovers. A few years ago, I was disowned by my parents for marrying someone outside of my race. Since then, I started living the life I always dreamt for myself and stopped living a life that was built around conformity. I escaped the stereotypical life I was told to live and have visited 80+ countries since then. I empower you and teach you how to make travel happen by providing practical tips and genuine advice. I’m also dedicated to helping you cultivate your dream life and become the best version of yourself regardless of your wounds or your past. I’m here to be your biggest fan.

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